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Sunday, January 26, 2014

52 Ancestors: #4 - That OTHER Jollett Family

Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small has issued a
challenge: write one blog post each week
devoted to a specific ancestor. It can
be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem –
anything that focuses on one ancestor.

Last time I mentioned another Jollett family living in
Culpeper County, Virginia, James and Gracey. While
it looks like they would be likely candidates for the parents of my confirmed
James Jollett, “Gracey” as mother defies logic considering all the marriage
records on which “Mary” is listed as mother of the bride. Instead I have tricked myself into assuming
they are an aunt and uncle, but I do realize they need more attention than I
have given to their research.

What I do know for sure is that there was a James JOLET
who obtained a land patent for 61.5 acres in Spotsylvania County in 1748. That puts him in the time frame of Thomas and
William Jollett.

In exchange for the land, James Jolet was required to pay
one shilling for every 50 acres of land on the Feast of St. Michael the Arch
Angel. “Michaelmas” fell on September
29, the beginning of autumn when harvest was done. In addition, he was expected to cultivate and
improve 3 acres for every 50; failure to do so would result in revocation of
the patent. (I do not know for sure
whether the payment was to King George II or to the governor of the Virginia
colony.)

Then in 1760, James JOLLY purchased 127 acres along
Little Crooked Run in Culpeper County from Joseph and Mary James. I have transcribed the indenture, but to
avoid a snooze-fest of legal jargon, I have isolated the description of the
property because metes and bounds are just fun to read:

. . . Grant,
Bargain Sell Enfeoff and Confirm unto the said James Jolly his heirs and
assigns forever all that Tract or Parcel of Land Situated lying and being in
the County aforesaid and on little Crooked Run and Bounded as followeth.
Beginning at two Maples and Red Oak on Little Crooked Run in Beverlys line
thence with his line North Twenty seven Degrees East One Hundred and Sixty
eight poles to a White Oak and Two Pines Corner to the said Beverly and Henry
Field, thence with the said Field’s line North Seventy two Degrees West one
hundred and four poles to a White Oak and Pine thence South Twenty seven West
one hundred and Sixty eight poles to two Pines on the North side Crooked Run
thence South Six Degrees West fifty poles to three Pines on Kirtley Road thence
East Sixty Pole to a White Oak on the South side the said Road thence North
Seventy Degrees East Seventeen pole to a Maple and White Oak in the Little
Crooked Run thence down the Several Meanders of the Run to the Beginning. Containing
One hundred Twenty seven acres of Land . . . .

Seventeen years later, James and Gracey JOLLETT sold 127
acres along Little Crooked Run to Alexander Newman. Let’s compare those metes and bounds:

. . . one
hundred twenty seven acres of land in County aforesaid on Little Crooked Run
bounded beginning at two Maples on the aforesaid run in BEAVERLY's line thence
with his line North to two pines Corner to said Beaverly and HENRY FIELD thence
with said Field's line North to a white oak on the North side of Crooks Run
thence South West to KIRTLEY's ROAD thence East to a white oak on the South
side of the said road to a Maple in Little Crooked Run down the several courses
of the run to the first beginning. . . .

Yep, sounds like the same property to me. I wonder if those maples and white oaks are
still standing. Seriously, obviously
this Jolly and Jollett are the same person.
The difference in spelling might indicate a pronunciation, perhaps
French.

(LIGHT BULB moment:
maybe James and Gracey were Thomas’s parents – it makes sense for Thomas
to name a son after his father, little James’s grandfather).

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About Me

My name is Wendy. About twenty years ago, I helped my mother research the Jolletts. Since retiring from teaching, I have expanded my research which I share here. When I’m not looking for my own family, I index for FamilySearch and the Greene County Historical Society.
Welcome to Jollett Etc. Please leave a comment to let me know you were here. If you have more information or believe we are related, EMAIL ME at wendymath at cox dot net